Overview

Broken by Karin Fossum, Random House UK

A woman wakes up in the middle of the night. A strange man is in her bedroom. She lies there in silence, paralyzed with fear. The woman is an author and the man one of her characters, one in a long line that waits in her driveway for the time when she’ll tell their stories. He is so desperate that he has resorted to breaking into her house and demanding that she begin. He, the author decides, is named Alvar Eide, forty-two years old, single, works in a gallery. He lives a quiet, orderly life and likes it that way—no demands, no unpleasantness. Until the icy winter morning when a young drug addict, skinny and fragile, walks into the gallery. Alvar gives her a cup of coffee to warm her up. And then one day she appears on his doorstep. Broken is an unconventional, subtle, and disturbing mystery from a master of the form.

Product Details

About the Author

KARIN FOSSUM is the author of the internationally successful Inspector Konrad Sejer crime series. Her recent honors include a Gumshoe Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for mystery/thriller. She lives in Norway.

Editorial Reviews

In one sense, Broken isn't even a mystery. The only crime committed comes late in the story; it's almost anti-climactic. Yet Fossum builds suspense almost entirely through the ongoing collision of Alvar…and young Lindys, a damaged wraith of a girl who constantly tests him with her crude demands…The "broken" of the title refers to a painting of a collapsed bridge that Alvar had yearned to buy before Lindys barged in and ran through nearly all his money. It's an obvious but apt metaphor for the kinds of injured lives that Karin Fossum evokes so brilliantly in her Inspector Sejer mysteries and now in this odd, memorable book.The Washington Post

Richard Lipez

In an odd departure from her Inspector Sejer series, Norwegian crime novelist Fossum (The Water's Edge) tells the story of a writer confronted by a character of her own creation. As the nameless female narrator explains, the characters for her future novels line up in her driveway in roughly the order she'll write their tales. One night, a man she names Alvar Eide--currently second in line--cuts to the front and demands his story be told. Fossum alternates between Eide's sedate life near Drammen, where he works in an art gallery, and his discussions with his "creator" about how certain events should play out. The first hint of tension appears in the form of an enigmatic 18-year-old girl, who comes into the gallery one winter afternoon and strikes up a conversation with Eide. Despite an intriguing concept, Fossum never fully sheds the artificiality of a writer writing about a writer writing. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

“A superb writer of psychological suspense.”–New York Times

From the Publisher

In a stark departure from her award-winning Inspector Sejer series (The Water's Edge), Fossum offers insight into the mind and work of a mystery writer. A first-person author, with a line of potential characters waiting at her door, is awakened one night by a man who jumps the line, so anxious is he to have his story told. He is Alvar Eide, who at 42 leads a solitary life working in an art gallery and believes himself to be a good person. Then he falls in love with a painting, priced at a sum that would take all his savings, and befriends a young heroin addict, a skinny girl with translucent skin, who follows him home and insinuates herself into his life, with predictably tragic results. VERDICT Eide's story is interrupted repeatedly by his meetings with the author, as he questions his story and she shares hers in a structure that seems both self-indulgent and illuminating on Fossum's part. With its remarkably detailed portrait of Eide, this suspenseful story may be a regarded as a gift by Fossum's devotees; others may find it more a fleshed-out novelette, albeit in the author's typically crisp and insightful prose. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/15/10.]—Michele Leber, Arlington, VA

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

I just read Broken in one sitting. The writing and development of the main character keep you turning the pages. As I learned about him, I recognized so many of those character traits in myself.It provoked deep thought about the character and how I could easily identify with him and his lifestyle. I could feel his emotions and his pain and just wanted to keep reading to find out how his character changes and to think about the lesson to be learned here. Written in an unusual style, this book keeps you riveted, however, it is not a crime or a mystery as defined by genre. It's more a study of a human being's weaknesses and what it takes to overcome them....like a self-help/psycholodgical theme. I highly recommend this book to someone looking for a different type of read that engages you to be introspective!

MsKazoo

More than 1 year ago

Only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is for the 1st chapter, it started slow- but then hold on! Totally unique story style- Loved it! Author & lead character story..... then lead charater story....... translated from another language into English... This author is wonderful! She usues her own life- puts it into her story - makes you think about your own life & ideas on it........ You care about the few people & want it all to be okay... in the end, is it really?? GREAT BOOK! Not a big book- Big Thoughts though! BRAVO! Maybe I should give it 5 stars........ Enjoy!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I have enjoyed several books by Karin Fossum. My favorite is "The Indian Bride. Broken was so boring.

AuntieTootsie

More than 1 year ago

If you like a book with a plot that SLOWLY develops, then this is the book for you. It is big on character development and small on plot. You can actually feel the anxiety that the main character is experiencing when his orderly life becomes unraveled. You just want to shake him into action but this is his story and must unfold at his own pace.

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